Portuguese and German authorities have launched a new search for Madeleine McCann, nearly 16 years after she vanished. Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, on May 3, 2007. Her case has become one of the most well-known missing persons investigations in Europe.
On Monday, the Portuguese police began executing search warrants from German prosecutors, covering 21 locations between the site of Madeleine’s disappearance and the area where the main suspect was staying at the time. The search this week is focused on a specific abandoned building, where officers have been seen digging and clearing rocks.
The ongoing search is part of a broader investigation that includes examining wells and clearing vegetation in the area. Approximately 30 German officers are involved in this operation, which is expected to continue until Friday. The search site is located about 3.5 miles from the Ocean Club resort, where Madeleine’s family was staying.
Authorities have not disclosed whether this search is based on new evidence, but experts believe it may be a final attempt to find clues or remains. Charlie Hedges, a former chief of the National Crime Agency’s missing children unit, noted that the search appears to be quite extensive, suggesting investigators might be exploring a wider area than usual.
The case has shifted focus to German authorities since 2020 when they identified Christian Brückner, a German national, as the prime suspect. Brückner is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for another crime committed in Portugal. He has denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance, and no charges have been brought against him in connection with her case.
The investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, known as Operation Grange, has been ongoing since 2011 and has cost around £13.3 million. The Metropolitan Police are still treating the case as a missing persons investigation, while German authorities suspect Brückner of murder.
The last major search took place two years ago, focusing on a reservoir northeast of where Madeleine went missing. As the search continues, the McCann family remains determined to find answers, emphasizing their commitment to leave no stone unturned.